The work, by academics at the Universities of Bristol and Sunderland, reveals most domestic abuse survivors do not report it to the police.

The report says this is partly because they do not recognise it as domestic abuse and see it as their own problem.

But also they do not believe they will get a sympathetic response.

The academics concluded training and awareness raising about domestic abuse in same sex relationships is needed in public agencies, particularly those in the criminal justice, domestic violence and Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) fields.

The report also recommends awareness raising campaigns are conducted within LGBT communities.

Of those who said they had experienced domestic abuse, just over one in five (22%) did not seek help from anyone.

Of those who did seek help, more than half contacted friends, rather than statutory agencies.

Just one in 10 contacted the police.